TACOMA: Do we fear paying people a living wage?

Your recommendation that voters reject the raise in the minimum wage to $15 in favor of a slow approach pegged to the rate of inflation is flawed.

You support the right of small business owners to pay poverty level wages and propose an expanded earned income tax credit so workers can make ends meet. The net result is that taxpayers pay part of the cost of labor for small businesses.

People should be fairly compensated for their labor, not have to depend upon subsidies because business owners want to keep wages low. We need to rethink the business model that evades the real cost of labor. Vote for a fair minimum wage: $15 per hour.